Coffin-fastener



N. K. GAM

Gom-1N FAST Patnted Jan. 21, 1890,-

WIT Si INVENTR WMMW i AWM-3M ATTQHNEYS- lUNiTsn Srarn's NATHANIEL K.GMBLE, OF IYINFIELD, QUEENS COUNTY, NEWT YORK.

COFFlN-FASTENER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 419,84C6, datedJanuaryl, 1890.

Application filed October l2, 1889.

T0 all whom, t may concern:

Be it known that I, NATHANIEL K. GAM- BLE, of lYiniield, in the countyof Queens, in the State of New York, have invented new and usefulImprovements in Lid-Fasteners for Burial-Caskets, of which thefollowing, taken in connection with the accompanying draw ings, is afull, clear, and exact description.

This invention relates to the class of lidfasteners in which a catchenters a slotted catch-plate and interlocks therewith.

My present invention consists in the combination, with the casket andits lid vand a catch and catch-plate attached to said parts, of apeculiarly constructed and arranged latch, which is secured to the partcarrying the catch-plate, and is adapted to automatically engage andmaintain the catch in its interlocked position in the catch-plate, and amanipulative key is adapted to throw the latch out of engagement withthe catch, all as hereinafter more fully described, and set forth in theclaim.

In the annexed drawings, Figure l is avertical longitudinal section ofmy improved lidfastener and the portions of theburia-Lcasket to whichsaid fastener is attached. Fig. 2 is atop plan view of a portion of oneof the sides of the casket to which the catchnplate is attached, andFig. 3 is an inverted plan view of that portion of the lid to which thecatch is attached.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts.

A represents Va portion of the side of a burial-casket, and B theportion of the lid directly over the former.

P denotes the catch-plate of my improved lid-fastener. Said plate iscounters unk in the top edge of the side of the casket and rigidlysecured thereto by screws c', passing through the plate and into theside of the casket. This catchplate is formed with a longitudinal slot eand with a longitudinal surfacegroove c, extending from one end of theslot, as shown in Fig. 2 of the drawings. Underneath said catclnplate isa latch cl, preferably of the form of a spring-plate, secured at one endto the casket under the end of the plate P, which is provided with thegroove e', the free end of said spring-plate extending part way thelength of the slot c. The at- Serial No. 326,847. (No model.)

tachment. of the spring-plate I preferably effect by passing theattaching-screw t at the aforesaid end of the catch-plate through thespringnplate, and thereby clamping the latter between the catch-plateand subjacent portion of the casket.

7L represents the catch, which is preferably of the form of a hook,adapted to enter the slot c of the catch-plate P and engage the underside of said plate at the end of the slot farthest from the latch orspring-plate h, as shown in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The said catch isformed on a plate P which is countersunk in the under side of themarginal portion of the lid B and firmly secured in its position byscrews Z l, passing up through the plate and into the lid. v

The catch h is provided with a shoulder c at its back and in such aposition that when v the catch is fully engaged with the catchplate thefree end of the latch or spring-plate d abuts against said shoulder, andthus prevents the catch 7L from being withdrawn from its aforesaidengagement. For releasing the catch from the springplate I employ asuitable key, preferably of the form of a pushpin h, sliding in avertical channel a, extending through the catch back of the shoulder cand through its sup porting-plate P and niarginal portion of the lid.The said push-pin rests with its lower end on the free end of thespring-plate CZ, and is supported thereby. The upper end of the push-pinis provided with a suitable head 7L', the top of which is nearly orquite flush with the top of the marginal portion of the lid, the upperend of the channel a being enlarged to accommodate the head b' and allowthe same to be pushed down.

Only two of the described lid-fasteners are required on a casket, one oneach side.. Other ordinary catches-such as shown at C,or of any othersuitable and well-known forln--are em ployed at intervals of the lengthof the aforesaid parts of the casket and lid.

In applying the lid to the casket the lid is placed with its catches 7Lh resting in the grooves c of the catch-plates. Then by sliding the lidendwise toward the slots c the catches enter said slots and pass withtheir hooks under the catch-plates at the ends of the slots, and whenthis is effected the latches or springplates (Z automatically fall withtheir free ends into engagement with the shoulders c Of the catches, andthereby lock the latter in their position.

To remove the lid from the casket, the pushpins b are to be pushed down.The springplates d, being thereby depressed and thrown out Of engagementwith the shoulders c, allow the lid to be drawn back out of the slots ofthe catch-plates.

Having described myinventiOn,WhatI claim as new, and desire to secure byLetters Patent, isv In combination with the casket and its lid, alongitudinally-slotted catch-plate attached to the top of the side WallsOf the casket, a catch attached to the under side Of the lid and adaptedto enter the slot of said plate and engage the under side thereof andprovided with a rearward shoulder, a latch secured to the casket andadapted tO engage the shoulder Of the aforesaid catch when interlockedwith the catch-plate, and a key passing through the lid and engaging theaforesaid latch, substantially as described and shown.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto signed my name this 4th day ofOctober, 1889.

NATHANIEL K. GAMRLE. [L s] Vitnesses:

ANDREW MANGER, GEORGE COOKE.

